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The blooms will be gorgeous this spring for the 2020 Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival. Photo by Rose Gordon Sala
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3/6/20 - By Laurie Rein

Springtime is just a few chilly weeks away. Get ready to ditch the winter coats and boots in preparation for playgrounds, farm fun, and outdoor fairs and festivals. Some of our favorite Garden State events take place in spring, including the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival, the New Jersey Renaissance Faire, and the Wildwoods International Kite Festival.

We're also looking forward to New Jersey's numerous egg hunts and Easter celebrations, not to mention the many great family performances coming to NJ stages this spring, including Laurie Berkner, a Llama LLama musical, and Disney on Ice.

 

Read on for more than 45 super spring events for New Jersey families, plus check out our Spring Fun Guide for a full roster of seasonal fun.

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Celebrate the return of spring with a ride on the Easter Bunny Express! Photo courtesy of the Whippany Railway Museum
Celebrate the return of spring with a ride on the Easter Bunny Express! Photo courtesy of the Whippany Railway Museum

Spring Events in March

10th Annual Kidfest- CANCELED

Saturday, March 21 – New Brunswick – FREE
Magic 98.3 presents a fun-filled day of live entertainment, games, contests, giveaways, a climbing wall, bounce houses, and more, held at Rutgers University.  READ MORE

9th Annual Spring Model Railroad Show- POSTPONED

Saturdays and Sundays, March 21-29 – North Haledon
Founded in 1953, the Garden State Model Railway Club has been in North Haledon since 1957. They open the doors to the public in the winter and spring. READ MORE

Erth's Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure- CANCELED

Sunday, March 22 – Morristown
The creators of Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Live want to take your family on an all new adventure – this time to the bottom of the ocean. Explore unknown ocean depths, where prehistoric marine reptiles lived eons ago - and maybe live still today. READ MORE

New Shanghai Circus

Friday, March 27 – Branchburg
Astonishing athletes defy gravity and execute breathtaking feats of incredible skill in this spellbinding show that draws upon 2,000 years of Chinese circus traditions. READ MORE

Easter and Springtime Family Festival at Alstede Farms- POSTPONED

Various Days – March 28 – April 29 – Chester
Come and celebrate spring on the farm. Enjoy a visit with the Easter Bunny, hunt for eggs, visit adorable baby farm animals, participate in children's activities including pony rides, moon bounce, scenic hay wagon rides and much more. READ MORE

Brunch with the Easter Bunny at Alstede Farms- POSTPONED

Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, March 28 – April 11 – Chester
Brunch includes a delicious all-you-can-eat spread, photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny, and all activities in the Easter and springtime festival area. READ MORE

28th Annual Easter Bunny Express- POSTPONED

Saturdays and Sundays, March 29 – April 11 – Whippany
The popular Easter Bunny Express returns to the Whippany Railway Museum for its 28th year. The Easter Bunny and train crew will greet guests and hand out holiday treats to kids on this 10-mile round-trip journey along the Morristown & Erie Railway's historic Whippanong Trail. READ MORE
Don your best bonnet and hunt for eggs at Heaven Hill Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm
Don your best bonnet and hunt for eggs at Heaven Hill Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm

Spring Events in April

Easter EggstravaganZoo

Saturday, April 4 – Cape May – FREE
(new date for weather) All are invited to Cape May County Park and Zoo for its annual EggstravaganZoo, featuring the Easter Bunny. Visitors can have their picture taken with the popular rabbit on Friday—so bring your camera. READ MORE

The Easter Bunny Train Ride & Easter Egg Hunt

Saturdays and Sunday, April 4-11 – Phillipsburg
All aboard the Easter Bunny train ride! Guests visit with Mr. E. Bunny as the train winds along the scenic Delaware River after departing from the historic district of Phillipsburg.  READ MORE

Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival

Daily, April 4-19 – Newark – FREE
Enjoy thousands of flowering cherry trees, plus tons of family fun, as Essex County presents this two-weekend festival in Branch Brook Park. The fun includes Bloomfest, Essex County Family Day, 10K and 1-mile family fun runs, bike races, and a community fair.  READ MORE

Six Flags Great Adventure Season Opening

Saturday, April 4 – Jackson
From thrilling roller coasters to fun family rides to live entertainment, Six Flags Great Adventure offers something for everyone. Don't miss the theme park's season opening.  READ MORE

Easter Egg Hunt in Seaside Heights

Sunday, April 5- Seaside Heights – FREE
The Easter Bunny has lost his eggs on the beach in Seaside Heights and he needs lots of help finding them. Kids can search with others in their age group to find more than 10,000 eggs hidden in the sand. READ MORE

Red Bank Street Fair

Sunday, April 5 – Red Bank – FREE
Start off the street fair season right here in Red Bank with crafts, vendors, fair food, rides and plenty of shopping. Rain or shine. READ MORE

Jenkinson's Boardwalk Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Sunday, April 5 – Point Pleasant – FREE
Jenkinson's invites children ages 10 and under for this unofficial kickoff to the summer season, featuring an egg hunt in the sand. Limit three eggs per child. Rain or shine. READ MORE

Heaven Hill Farm Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday April 11 – Vernon – FREE
Join the Easter Bunny for a fun-filled day on the farm. Take part in the new Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt, plus snag Easter Bunny photos, meet farm animals, take a hayride, ride pedal cars, and much more. READ MORE

Liberty Hall Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Saturday, April 11 – Union
Liberty Hall opens its grounds, letting kids search for plastic eggs filled with holiday treats hidden throughout the property. A surprise visit from the Easter Bunny caps off the event. READ MORE

Bunny Chase Weekend

Saturday-Sunday, April 11-12 – Princeton – FREE
Look for treasure hunt clues around Terhune Orchards farm, leading to a spring surprise at the end of the hunt. This fun event is free to families. READ MORE

Morey's Piers Easter Celebration- CANCELED

Sunday, April 12 – Wildwood – FREE
Morey's Piers is hopping with Easter Sunday celebrations and activities that include pictures with the Easter Bunny, an Easter egg contest, a balloon artist, and strolling entertainment. READ MORE

Easter Parade

Sunday, April 12 – Galloway – FREE
Put on your Easter best and stroll the Village in style. Begins at the Smithville Inn at 1:00 p.m., and awards are given for best outfits.  READ MORE

Jenkinson's Easter Parade- CANCELED

Sunday, April 12 – Point Pleasant – FREE
Put on your Easter best, and head over to this annual parade by the shore. Registration to march starts 11:30am at Joey Tomatoes. READ MORE

Dino Day at the Morris Museum- CANCELED

Saturday, April 18 – Morristown
This weekend, travel back in time to when dinosaurs roamed New Jersey. Kids can handle real fossils, meet a dinosaur expert, participate in a hunt for fossils in the Museum's dig pit, and make dinosaur-related crafts in the museum's galleries. READ MORE

Rockin' for Autism- CANCELED

Saturday, April 18 – Fanwood – FREE
Rock out to live music from local bands, a DJ and dance performances at this 5th annual festival. The event raises money for autism research. Bruce Springsteen tribute band, The BStreetBand, will headline 12 musical acts for a full day of great music, food and fun. READ MORE

Cape May Spring Festival

Daily, April 24 – May 17 – Cape May
The beachside town of Cape May hosts four days of family-friendly activities, from trolley tours to boat rides to indoor activities.  READ MORE

Hoboken Spring Arts & Music Festival- CANCELED

Saturday, April 25 – Hoboken – FREE
This family-friendly festival features over 300 artists, crafters, photographers, food vendors, local restaurants and businesses. Three stages will feature live music performances. READ MORE

Rutgers Day- CANCELED

Saturday, April 25 – New Brunswick – FREE
Rutgers Day is the university’s annual welcome and show-and-tell for New Jersey residents of all ages. The event, which celebrates its 12th anniversary this year, offers more than 600 free demonstrations, interactive activities and performances. READ MORE

Renaissance Faire- CANCELED

Saturday-Sunday, April 25-26- Galloway – FREE
Join the players of the New Jersey Renaissance Faire, and travel back to the days of yore and merry Olde England as the Historic Village of Smithville is transformed into the Shire of Smithville in the heart of the English Renaissance.  READ MORE

Daffodil Day at Reeves-Reed Arboretum

Sunday, April 26 – Summit
Celebrate the arrival of spring with flower power. Expect green-themed games and crafts, music, food trucks, a story walk, and green goats.  READ MORE

Cranford Street Fair

Sunday, April 26 – Cranford – FREE
Delicious food, handcrafted items, live music, and so much more make for a memorable  festival at this walkable celebration in downtown Cranford.  READ MORE

Vernon Earthfest - CANCELED

Sunday, April 26 – Vernon – FREE
Earthfest will be featuring live music throughout the day, along with face painting, gem mining, and a beekeeper (bees included!) to mention a few of the 2020 scheduled attractions. READ MORE

Communiversity- CANCELED

Sunday, April 26 – Princeton – FREE
Peruse 225+ artists, crafters, merchants and nonprofits at Palmer Square in Princeton. Enjoy continuous live entertainment on seven stages, plus child-friendly activities and performances. READ MORE
Watch the skies fill with colorful kites at the Wildwoods International Kite Festival. Photo courtesy of Wildwoods
Watch the skies fill with colorful kites at the Wildwoods International Kite Festival. Photo courtesy of Wildwoods

Spring Events in May

Kite Day

Saturday-Sunday, May 2-3 – Princeton
All are invited to explore Terhune Orchards during this spring festival. Bring a kite or choose a ready-made kite from the wide selection in the store, then test fly the kite in the wide-open 10-acre pasture with all the farm animals looking on. READ MORE

The Laurie Berkner Band Live! The Greatest Hits Tour

Saturday, May 2 – Morristown
MAYO Performing Arts Center welcomes children's music superstar Laurie Berkner for an all-new music and dance party. READ MORE

Car Cruise

Fridays, May 8 and 22 – Galloway – FREE
Stop by The Village Greene at Historic Smithville. to see some spectacular vehicles on display, or show off one of your own. The Car Cruises is a perfect hang-out for all car enthusiasts to see, show, and talk cars. READ MORE

Lake Hopatcong Block Party

Saturday, May 9 – Landing – FREE
Celebrate New Jersey’s largest lake during this day-long festival. Connect with community groups, crafters, and food vendors while enjoying activities, raffles, giveaways, a children’s scavenger hunt, and more. READ MORE

Children's Festival

Saturday, May 9 – Galloway – FREE
Get ready for a family fun-filled day with Historic Smithville's annual Children's Festival. READ MORE

Ocean Fun Days

Saturday-Sunday, May 16-17 – Sandy Hook – FREE
This 2-day festival celebrates the ocean with exhibits, classes, nature tours, and children’s activities focused on our coastal environment. READ MORE

Mayfest

Saturday-Sunday, May 16-17 – Galloway – FREE
At the annual Mayfest, Historic Smithville host's over 100 jurie crafters, an international food court, music, kids activities, non-profit organizations and much more. READ MORE

BubbleMania: Comedy With A Drip

Sunday, May 17 – South Orange
Comic bubble artist Casey Carl brings BubbleMania, his amazing one-man show combining spontaneous comedy, jazzy music and brilliant bubbling, to the SOPAC stage. READ MORE

Metuchen Street Fair

Sunday, May 17 – Metuchen – FREE
Hit the streets of downtown Metuchen for vendors, crafts, food, kiddie rides, games, bands, a DJ, and more. READ MORE

New Jersey Renaissance Faire

Saturdays and Sundays, May 23 – June 7 – Bordentown
The Italian Renaissance takes over Burlington County Fairgrounds for 7 days, featuring cast members entertaining visitors as they walk through the castle gates. Look out for a jousting tournament, aerial acrobatics, magic shows, fire dancers, and craft demonstrations. READ MORE

Wildwoods International Kite Festival

Daily, May 22-25 – Wildwood – FREE
The annual Wildwoods International Kite Festival, the largest such festival in North America, features kite makers from around the world flying their most incredible and colorful creations. READ MORE

Places featured in this article:

Garden State Model Railway Club
Cape May County Park and Zoo
Delaware River Railroad Excursions
Seaside Heights Beach Locations
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Downtown Cranford
Mayo Performing Arts Center
South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC)
Beach Across from Wildwood Convention Center

About the Author

Laurie R
Laurie Rein is thrilled to have made a career of digging up activities (especially free ones!) for her twin daughters. Prior to working with Mommy Poppins NJ, Laurie wore many hats in the television industry including gigs as an NBC page, NBC copywriter, affiliate liaison for The Rosie O'Donnell Show and research manager for CBS. She is currently the Events Editor for Mommy Poppins NJ and can be reached at njevents@mommypoppins.com
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